ABC news did a short follow up story tonight on Virginia Law and a 'loophole' that allows people to buy guns legally at gun shows without a background check. This all stems from the VT massacre and a group of victims' families has been advocating this law be changed since the tragedy took place. My thoughts...
As with 95% of all other gun restriction theories and laws, all it accomplishes is screwing over the law abiding gun owners. How many gun toting gangster-wanna-be hoodlums are actually going to attain a firearm through legal means in the first place regardless of what the restrictions may be? Yes I will concede that there are probably instances in which stricter back ground check requirements, etc. would prevent a crime of passion. However, I also believe that by making it more difficult, if not impossible, for a person to legally own a gun, one of 2 things will occur. Either that person is going to attain a gun illegally which puts cash in the pockets of the criminals and furthers their business, or that person is just going to say 'oh well, im sure everything will be fine' and go on about his life. In essence they reduce the number of good guys with guns, which will only encourage the BGs with guns to do more bad.
Secondly, and more confusingly, the folks are attacking the gun show loophole because no background checks are required. Ok fine, I can see that. But the shooter in the VT tragedy bought his guns from licensed dealers after passing TWO separate background checks. So why are they attacking gun shows with this argument that that loophole is the cause of the problem??
Bottom line, I do think its ridiculous that a person with the documented and lengthy medical/mental history that that guy had, that he was able to legally obtain weapons. We don't put blind people behind cars, we don't let crazy people be parents, why the heck are we letting them carry guns legally? Don't get me wrong, im a total advocate of our rights, but I also think privacy rights in reference to gun ownership probably need to be flexible. However, I am so tired of the anti-gun people coming up with all these laws and rules that aren't going to do anything to stop crime. The crimes of passion that would be prevented would be NOTHING in comparison to the increase in violent crimes.
UGH ok...i feel somewhat better getting that off my chest.
As with 95% of all other gun restriction theories and laws, all it accomplishes is screwing over the law abiding gun owners. How many gun toting gangster-wanna-be hoodlums are actually going to attain a firearm through legal means in the first place regardless of what the restrictions may be? Yes I will concede that there are probably instances in which stricter back ground check requirements, etc. would prevent a crime of passion. However, I also believe that by making it more difficult, if not impossible, for a person to legally own a gun, one of 2 things will occur. Either that person is going to attain a gun illegally which puts cash in the pockets of the criminals and furthers their business, or that person is just going to say 'oh well, im sure everything will be fine' and go on about his life. In essence they reduce the number of good guys with guns, which will only encourage the BGs with guns to do more bad.
Secondly, and more confusingly, the folks are attacking the gun show loophole because no background checks are required. Ok fine, I can see that. But the shooter in the VT tragedy bought his guns from licensed dealers after passing TWO separate background checks. So why are they attacking gun shows with this argument that that loophole is the cause of the problem??
Bottom line, I do think its ridiculous that a person with the documented and lengthy medical/mental history that that guy had, that he was able to legally obtain weapons. We don't put blind people behind cars, we don't let crazy people be parents, why the heck are we letting them carry guns legally? Don't get me wrong, im a total advocate of our rights, but I also think privacy rights in reference to gun ownership probably need to be flexible. However, I am so tired of the anti-gun people coming up with all these laws and rules that aren't going to do anything to stop crime. The crimes of passion that would be prevented would be NOTHING in comparison to the increase in violent crimes.
UGH ok...i feel somewhat better getting that off my chest.